"Don't leave her side, Harold," Sands said as he was wheeled from Grace's room.
"I won't," Harold replied. "Are you sure that you don't want to be put out?"
"Fuck no! If she wakes up, I don't want to be out cold. If I'm only half done, I want to be here with…"
"I don't know that she'd appreciate that, Sheldon," Harold chuckled.
"Look, just…"
"Come on, Agent," Dr. Morris, the surgeon flown in to give Sands a new set of eyes, said.
"But I…"
Dr. Morris shook his head. "She's in good hands. We're going." As Sands was wheeled down several long hallways, Dr. Morris began to explain a few things about the procedure. "Your new eyes are quite a scientific advancement."
"Will I be able to see out of them?" Sands asked sarcastically.
"Not that advance, I'm afraid. However, they are far from glass eyes. These are made of a material that will feel natural in the sockets and, if enough muscle tissue was left, will move naturally as well. They react to light and…"
"Gee," Sands said, sounding like an overenthusiastic little kid, "they do everything real eyes do, except what matters."
"You want to keep the holes in your head?"
"No. Sorry, I just miss, you know, seeing."
"I'd be irritable too."
"Hey, I'm not fucking irritable," Sands snapped. "Um…well…" He sighed. "Let's just get on with it."
"You're positive that you don't want to be put under? I mean, it might feel a bit…"
"I was awake when they fucking tore them out."
"You…what?"
"Yeah, believe me, this'll be nothing."
"All right."
Sands was put on the operating table and given a local anesthetic. He felt a bit woozy, but was still aware of his surroundings. He heard other American voices in the room.
"Doctor, what do you want on?" a female voice asked.
"Um…U2 today, Sandy, thank you."
Sands voice was slightly slurred when he asked, "You're gonna listen to fucking music while you're operating on me?"
"It relaxes me. But if you'd prefer a tense surgeon…"
"Listen away, friend," Sands said, forcing a smile. He heard music start and realized that the anesthetic must have been a bit more powerful then he was expecting. Sounds floated in and out of his ears. Thoughts came and went. Memories became vivid, then dull… Then something grasped him, keeping him slightly more aware for a few moments.
Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name
A song that just happened to contain the name of the woman who he'd fallen uncontrollably in love with filled the room. The middle of the song was lost among chatter between Dr. Morris and two other people. Sands wanted to ask them to be quiet, but his mouth wouldn't move the way he wanted it to. By the end, they were silent and he was able to hear the last lines that Bono sang:
Grace, she carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition
What once was hurt, what once was friction
What left a mark no longer stains
Because Grace makes beauty out of ugly things
Grace finds beauty in everything
Grace finds goodness in everything
"Gracie…" Sands voice was a hoarse whisper, but Dr. Morris heard it.
"Almost done here, Sheldon. We'll get you back to her soon."
Author's Note: Very short chapter, I know…sorry! But that's all I felt I needed here :-). The song is called "Grace" and it can be found on U2's album "All That You Can't Leave Behind."